CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41 THE TYCOON GROUP OF NANXUN TOWN

Yu Quan glanced sidelong at Sui Yi, his face betraying nothing, and his eyes revealing no depth.

"Go to hell! Sui Yi is the capable lieutenant I’ve finally found, he won’t follow you to mess around in the vast sea—" Elder Tang roared, his words laced with no pleasantries. However, everyone knew he was the most rogue pawnshop shopkeeper, whereas Lin Zhengdao completely contradicted his name, dealing in nefarious and underhand businesses in the shadows, with money, muscle, and connections.

In Nanxun, he was quite a figure, a pity that he had hidden away in the past few days.

But today, his mood appeared to be good.

As for his sudden interest in Sui Yi, perhaps only Elder Tang and Sui Yi themselves were clear about it.

That being the case, the others did not understand his intentions; seeing Sui Yi indeed young and beautiful with a distinguished air, so...

Zhou Ran’s eyes darkened, quickly darting a glance at Sui Yi without uttering a word.

Apart from Yu Quan, there were four other people here besides Elder Tang and Elder Lin, all carrying fine airs about them, owning their presence. Of these four, Sui Yi was familiar with two.

Elder Tang knew Sui Yi recognized these few, and they knew Sui Yi, after all, Sui Yi had been at Elder Tang’s shop for no short amount of time. But it was necessary to reintroduce them today.

So he directly pulled Sui Yi over, pointing to the white-bearded elder sitting in the chair,

"Sui Yi, come here, this is Boss Wang of Jade Glazed Studio, a member of Nanxun Chamber of Commerce, who specializes in selling jade and such, you remember... Boss Wang, you remember this girl, right!"

Boss Wang, likely in his fifties, appeared frail and lean, yet his spirit was strong, and his eyes were very bright. Seeing Elder Tang’s manner, although somewhat puzzled, he responded, "Oh—so it’s this young lady, I remember... she’s become even prettier—"

"Bah, like you need to say it!" Elder Tang huffed, turning to introduce the other three, "This is Elder Han, the shopkeeper of Book Fragrance Square, a true senior who not long ago purchased a scroll of ’Nantang Policy’ from our shop, you remember..."

Elder Han, possibly the oldest here in his sixties, looked not much his age, stroking his white beard and smiling at Sui Yi, giving a warm response.

As for the other two...

Elder Tang got a bit more serious, as they were not familiar with Sui Yi.

"Boss Qian of Fuquan Jewelry, the biggest jeweler in Nanxun Town, and he has branches elsewhere too, also a member of Nanxun Chamber of Commerce... And this, Boss Quan of Jinding Family, his place has many antiques... uh, these two are..."

Behind Boss Qian and Boss Quan stood two young individuals, a slender young woman and a young man with a pale face, spectacles, and a small beard.

Their outfits clearly indicated a life of comfort.

The woman was Boss Qian’s only daughter, Qian Shuangyu, and the latter was Boss Quan’s nephew, Quan Ling.

After introducing a series of people, the bosses felt some curiosity about Elder Tang’s formality, even Sui Yi herself found it a bit odd.

What was Elder Tang doing...

"Elder Tang, are you taking on an apprentice?" Elder Lin asked loudly.

Glancing at Sui Yi.

Never before had he taken an apprentice; was she changing her ways?

"Not taking on any apprentices, just that I’m getting older, and some tasks are beyond me. It’s necessary to find someone to take charge. You know Sui Yi, and that would make doing business easier in the future," Elder Tang’s words were a mix of truth and pretense, and the others didn’t take them too seriously, only Yu Quan and Elder Lin smiled with ambiguous meaning.

Qian Shuangyu swept a quick glance at Sui Yi, a hint of disdain on her face, while Quan Ling seemed genuinely interested, his phoenix eyes lifting as he looked at Sui Yi several times.

Moments later, Sui Yi stood behind Elder Tang, dutifully, as Zhou Ran leaned in and whispered, "Sui Yi, did Elder Tang truly... take you as an apprentice?"

The tone was subdued, laden with an unspoken depth.

Sui Yi turned her head slightly, "No..."

"Is that so..." Zhou Ran smiled, then fell silent.

The people here, although they seemed congenial, were all business competitors, and some even in the same trade. It was impossible that there were no undercurrents. Sui Yi stood by, watching them chat over tea, quickly grasping the key points of today’s meeting.

The Classical Chinese Conference in Nanxun was an important event for Nanxun Town, even within the Jiangnan District. Cultural exchange would draw countless cultural relics and antiques, along with attached commercial interests, to flood into Nanxun Town. Even the authorities would get involved in regulation, and the local merchants naturally had to set examples and make arrangements.

Thus, today was both a meeting and a... treasure appraisal gathering.

After all, it was the Classical Chinese Conference, and everyone wanted to get a foot in the door to reap some benefits—who would take the lead, and who would assist?

It all comes down to personal ability, and such ability naturally relates to one’s own capacity to appreciate antiques, otherwise how could one host an event?

Thus, today’s meeting came to be.

Sui Yi watched the verbal joust of these people who were over fifty and found it rather interesting.

In the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, they had ironed out some details about the Classical Chinese Conference. Boss Quan, accustomed to being aggressive, and not so old either, was the first to lose patience and said, "We’ve talked enough about the matter, so let’s get to today’s main event... Let’s each bring out our own items~~~ and have a showdown!"

Boss Quan used to be a second-rate hoodlum who hung around neighborhood alleys, dabbling in antiques and rumored to have even been involved in tomb raiding. Later on, he seized an opportunity to make a fortune and then settled down properly into the antique business. But the toughness of his youth remained, and his temper was fiery, with a hint of powder keg in his words.

Elder Han and the others were a bit older, thus displaying a touch of scholarly grace. Upon hearing this, they didn’t decline and one by one had their assistants bring forth the briefcases they brought.

"Zhou Ran, take this over..." Elder Tang said with a chuckle, asking Zhou Ran to bring over the small briefcase.

Sui Yi had already heard about the rules of the treasure appraisal from these people.

Figures like Elder Tang, Yu Quan, Elder Lin, Elder Han, Boss Wang, Boss Qian, and Boss Quan would each take out an item, and each side had to judge the authenticity of the object. In the end, whoever had the highest number of accurate judgments would gain the right to speak.

Of course, the true or false information about these items could only be known to themselves; collusion with others was not allowed, and if discovered...

It also depended on the personal integrity of these people.

But having been immersed in this field for so many years, it is unlikely that they would risk their reputations for a jest, as being despised by others and having their business cut off would be foolish indeed!

Furthermore, Sui Yi noticed that they were all from the Nanxun Chamber of Commerce, with complex relationships, and would not play with fire lightly.

This was not a competition, nor an official event, but rather a mode of conduct tacitly agreed upon by the seven of them, no hard feelings involved, a loss was a loss, and a win was a win~!

Zhou Ran took the briefcase for Elder Tang, who then proceeded to open the lock and take out the item. Sui Yi stood aside and watched, her gaze drifting briefly, only to land on the person beside Elder Lin holding the briefcase.

What was Elder Lin calling him?

Ah A~~~.

An odd name~~

He placed the briefcase on the table and moved away after Elder Lin entered the combination.

Passing by Sui Yi...

Ah A looked about eighteen or nineteen, his demeanor somehow effeminate and unrestrained. Compared to the conventional and reserved Zhou Ran, despite being much younger, he exuded a sense of maturity.

Sui Yi didn’t pay him any further attention, simply cocking her head to observe the seven locked cases.

The item Elder Tang brought out surprised her.

It was the "Hat Tilt Collection"!

As for the other items...

Sui Yi hadn’t examined them closely when footsteps approached from outside the hall, and the doors swung open.

A woman dressed in a cheongsam stepped forward, bowed slightly with respect, and gestured to introduce the people entering behind her: "Ladies and gentlemen, the president has arrived."

The president?

After speaking, the woman stood up straight, closed the door, and positioned herself to the side, while those who had walked in caught everyone’s attention.

Almost without exception, all eyes were drawn to one place.

It wasn’t about attitudes; it was a human instinct to be attracted to the most dazzling thing at first sight.

It was a woman.

Tall and about one meter seventy, she had a strikingly aesthetic slimness. She wore a snow-white off-shoulder blouse that revealed exquisitely smooth skin like fine porcelain, delicate clavicles, and slim legs in black low-rise, cropped suit trousers, stepping in shiny silver stiletto heels. Holding a black Fang Zheng-patterned leather bag between her slender fingers, she walked a few steps effortlessly radiating a chic and high-end Western fashion vitality!

She exuded a quarter of dignity, a quarter of elegance, and half the commanding aura of a strong woman!

This woman, making her entrance, captivated all the men, including Yu Quan, holding their attention!

Even Qian Shuangyu, who was dressed quite delicately and attractively, suddenly seemed outclassed, as if she’d been relegated to Siberia!